Shreya Bhargava

EnrichHER Spark Conference 2018

When did you first realize that you were born to be an entrepreneur / business leader and what course of action did you take in terms of following that passion? After moving to D.C., I began volunteering at a homeless shelter and extensively interacted with the homeless individuals at the shelter, listening to their stories firsthand. These interactions compelled me to do something more fundamental that could enrich their lives and eventually help them out of homelessness. So, over a year ago, I started District Mugs (DM), a nonprofit volunteer group that introduces entrepreneurship primarily to the homeless in DC. By teaching business fundamentals through the painting, marketing, and selling of their own coffee mugs, DM has helped homeless participants earn a small income while instilling in them a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and pride.